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THE 
CONSTITUTION 

OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES 

OF 

AMERICA 


•    • 


WE 

THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

IN  ORDER  TO 

FORM  A  MORE  PERFECT  UNION 

ESTABLISH  JUSTICE 

INSURE  DOMESTIC  TRANQUILITY 

PROVIDE  FOR 

THE  COMMON  DEFENCE 

PROMOTE  THE  GENERAL  WELFARE 

AND  SECURE 

THE  BLESSINGS  OF  LIBERTY 

TO  OURSELVES 

AND  OUR  POSTERITY 

DO  ORDAIN  AND  ESTABLISH  THIS 

CONSTITUTION 

FOR  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF 

AMERICA 


ARTICLE  I 


SECTION  1 

QAU  legislative  Powers  herein  granted  shall  be 

vested  in  a  Congress  of  the  United  States,  which 

shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and  House  of  Represent^ 

atives. 

SECTION  2 

Qj  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  com^ 
posed  of  Members  chosen  every  second  Year  by 
the  People  of  the  several  States,  and  the  Electors 
in  each  State  shall  have  the  Qualifications  requisite 
for  Electors  of  the  most  numerous  Branch  of  the 
State  Legislature. 

(I[  No  Person  shall  be  a  Representative  who  shall 
not  have  attained  to  the  Age  of  twenty  five  Years, 
and  been  seven  Years  a  Citizen  of  the  United 
States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  In^ 
habitant  of  that  State  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 
(\  Representatives  and  direct  Taxes  shall  be  ap" 
portioned  among  the  several  States  which  may 
be  included  within  this  Union,  according  to  their 
respective  Numbers,  which  shall  be  determined 
by  adding  to  the  whole  Number  of  free  Persons, 
including  those  bound  to  Service  for  a  Term  of 
Years,  and  excluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three 


fifths  of  all  other  Persons.  The  actual  Enumera^ 
tion  shall  be  made  within  three  Years  after  the 
first  Meeting  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
and  within  every  subsequent  Term  of  ten  Years, 
in  such  Manner  as  they  shall  by  Law  direct.  The 
Number  of  Representatives  shall  not  exceed  one 
for  every  thirty  Thousand,  but  each  State  shall 
have  at  Least  one  Representative ;  and  until  such 
enumeration  shall  be  made,  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to  chuse  three,  Mas^ 
sachusetts  eight,  Rhode^Island  and  Providence 
Plantations  one,  Connecticut  five.  New- York  six, 
New  Jersey  four,  Pennsylvania  eight,  Delaware 
one,  Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten.  North  Carolina 
five,  South  Carolina  five,  and  Georgia  three. 
(\  When  vacancies  happen  in  the  Representation 
from  any  State,  the  Executive  Authority  thereof 
shall  issue  Writs  of  Election  to  fill  such  Vacancies. 
Q  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  chuse  their 
Speaker  and  other  Officers ;  and  shall  have  the  sole 
Power  of  Impeachment. 

SECTION  3 

(![  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  com- 
posed of  two  Senators  from  each  State,  chosen  by 
the  Legislature  thereof,  for  six  Years;  and  each  Sen- 
ator shall  have  one  Vote. 

(H  Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in 
Consequence  of  the  first  Election,  they  shall  be  du 


vided  as  equally  as  may  be  into  three  Classes.  The 
Seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first  Class  shall  be  va^ 
cated  at  the  Expiration  of  the  second  Year,  of  the 
second  Class  at  the  Expiration  of  the  fourth  Year, 
and  of  the  third  Class  at  the  Expiration  of  the  sixth 
Year,  so  that  one  third  may  be  chosen  every  second 
Year ;  and  if  Vacancies  happen  by  Resignation, 
or  otherwise,  during  the  Recess  of  the  Legislature 
of  any  State,  the  Executive  thereof  may  make  tem- 
porary Appointments  until  the  next  Meeting  of 
the  Legislature,  which  shall  then  fill  such  Vacan- 


cies. 


(1[  No  Person  shall  be  a  Senator  who  shall  not  have 
attained  to  the  Age  of  thirty  Years,  and  been  nine 
Years  a  Citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who  shall 
not,  when  elected,  be  an  Inhabitant  of  that  State 
for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 
(\  The  Vice  President  of  the  United  States  shall 
be  President  of  the  Senate,  but  shall  have  no  Vote, 
unless  they  be  equally  divided. 
Q[  The  Senate  shall  chuse  their  other  Officers,  and 
also  a  President  pro  tempore,  in  the  Absence  of  the 
Vice  President,  or  when  he  shall  exercise  the  Office 
of  President  of  the  United  States. 
Q  The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  Power  to  try  all 
Impeachments.  When  sitting  for  that  Purpose, 
they  shall  be  on  Oath  or  Affirmation.  When  the 
President  of  the  United  States  is  tried,  the  Chief 
Justice  shall  preside :  And  no  Person  shall  be  con- 


victed  without  the  Concurrence  of  two  thirds  of 
the  Members  present. 

(][  Judgment  in  Cases  of  Impeachment  shall  not 
extend  further  than  to  removal  from  Office,  and 
disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  Office  of 
honor,  Trust  or  Profit  under  the  United  States : 
but  the  Party  convicted  shall  nevertheless  be  liable 
and  subject  to  Indictment,  Trial,  Judgment  and 
Punishment,  according  to  Law. 

SECTION  4 

Q  The  Times,  Places  and  Manner  of  holding  Elec^ 
tions  for  Senators  and  Representatives,  shall  be 
prescribed  in  each  State  by  the  Legislature  thereof; 
but  the  Congress  may  at  any  time  by  Law  make 
or  alter  such  Regulations,  except  as  to  the  Places 
of  chusing  Senators. 

QThe  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in 
every  Year,  and  such  Meeting  shall  be  on  the  first 
Monday  in  December,  unless  they  shall  by  Law 
appoint  a  different  Day. 

SECTION  5 

(1[  Each  House  shall  be  the  Judge  of  the  Elections, 
Returns  and  Qualifications  of  its  own  Members, 
and  a  Majority  of  each  shall  constitute  a  Quorum 
to  do  Business;  but  a  smaller  Number  may  ad^ 
journ  from  day  to  day,  and  may  be  authorized  to 
compel  the  Attendance  of  absent  Members,  in  such 


Manner,  and  under  such  Penalties  as  each  House 
may  provide. 

(I[  Each  House  may  determine  the  Rules  of  its 
Proceedings,  punish  its  Members  for  disorderly 
Behaviour,  and,  with  the  Concurrence  of  two 
thirds,  expel  a  Member. 

(I  Each  House  shall  keep  a  Journal  of  its  Proceed^ 
ings,  and  from  time  to  time  publish  the  same, 
excepting  such  Parts  as  may  in  their  Judgment 
require  Secrecy;  and  the  Yeas  and  Nays  of  the 
Members  of  either  House  on  any  question  shall, 
at  the  Desire  of  one  fifth  of  those  Present,  be  en^ 
tered  on  the  Journal. 

(I[  Neither  House,  during  the  Session  of  Congress, 
shall,  without  the  Consent  of  the  other,  adjourn 
for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  other  Place 
than  that  in  which  the  two  Houses  shall  be  sitting. 

SECTION  6 

Q  The  Senators  and  Representatives  shall  receive 
a  Compensation  for  their  Services,  to  be  ascertained 
by  Law,  and  paid  out  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States.  They  shall  in  all  Cases,  except  Treason, 
Felony  and  Breach  of  the  Peace,  be  privileged  from 
Arrest  during  their  Attendance  at  the  Session  of 
their  respective  Houses,  and  in  going  to  and  re^ 
turning  from  the  same ;  and  for  any  Speech  or  De-" 
bate  in  either  House,  they  shall  not  be  questioned 
in  any  other  Place. 


(\  No  Senator  or  Representative  shall,  during  the 
Time  for  which  he  was  elected,  he  appointed  to 
any  civil  Office  under  the  Authority  of  the  United 
States,  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  Emol^ 
uments  whereof  shall  have  been  encreased  during 
such  time ;  and  no  Person  holding  any  Office  un^ 
der  the  United  States,  shall  be  a  Member  of  either 
House  during  his  Continuance  in  Office. 

SECTION  7 

(H  All  Bills  for  raising  Revenue  shall  originate  in 
the  House  of  Representatives ;  but  the  Senate  may 
propose  or  concur  with  Amendments  as  on  other 
Bills, 

Q  Every  Bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House 
of  Representatives  and  the  Senate,  shall,  before  it 
becomes  a  Law,  be  presented  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States ;  If  he  approve  he  shall  sign  it, 
but  if  not  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  Objections 
to  that  House  in  which  it  shall  have  originated, 
who  shall  enter  the  Objections  at  large  on  their 
Journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  it.  If  after  such 
Reconsideration  two  thirds  of  that  House  shall 
agree  to  pass  the  Bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with 
the  Objections,  to  the  other  House,  by  which  it 
shall  likewise  be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved  by 
two  thirds  of  that  House,  it  shall  become  a  Law. 
But  in  all  such  Cases  the  Votes  of  both  Houses 
shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  Nays,  and  the 


Names  of  the  Persons  voting  for  and  against  the 
Bill  shall  be  entered  on  thejournal  of  each  House 
respectively.  If  any  Bill  shall  not  be  returned  by 
the  President  within  ten  Days  (Sundays  excepted) 
after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same 
shall  be  a  Law,  in  like  Manner  as  if  he  had  signed 
it,  unless  the  Congress  by  their  Adjournment  pre^ 
vent  its  Return,  in  which  Case  it  shall  not  be  a 
Law. 

(\  Every  Order,  Resolution,  or  Vote  to  which  the 
Concurrence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre^ 
sentatives  may  be  necessary  (except  on  a  question 
of  Adjournment)  shall  be  presented  to  the  Presi^ 
dent  of  the  United  States ;  and  before  the  same 
shall  take  Effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him,  or 
being  disapproved  by  him,  shall  be  repassed  by 
two  thirds  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represent 
tatives,  according  to  the  Rules  and  Limitations 
prescribed  in  the  Case  of  a  Bill. 

SECTION  8 

(\  The  Congress  shall  have  Power  To  lay  and  coV 
lect  Taxes,  Duties,  Imposts  and  Excises,  to  pay  the 
Debts  and  provide  for  the  common  Defence  and 
general  Welfare  of  the  United  States;  but  all  Du^ 
ties.  Imposts  and  Excises  shall  be  uniform  through^ 
out  the  United  States ; 

(][  To  borrow  Money  on  the  credit  of  the  United 
States ; 


(\  To  regulate  Commerce  with  foreign  Nations, 
and  among  the  several  States,  and  with  the  In> 
dian  Tribes; 

Q  To  establish  an  uniform  Rule  of  Naturaliza^ 
tion,  and  uniform  Laws  on  the  subject  of  Bank^ 
ruptcies  throughout  the  United  States ; 
(\  To  coin  Money,  regulate  the  Value  thereof,  and 
of  foreign  Coin,  and  fix  the  Standard  of  Weights 
and  Measures ;    , 

Cl[  To  provide  for  the  Punishment  of  counterfeit^ 
ing  the  Securities  and  current  Coin  of  the  United 
States ; 

Q  To  establish  Post  Offices  and  post  Roads ; 
Q  To  promote  the  Progress  of  Science  and  useful 
Arts,  by  securing  for  limited  Times  to  Authors 
and  Inventors  the  exclusive  Right  to  their  respec- 
tive Writings  and  Discoveries ; 
Q  To  constitute  Tribunals  inferior  to  the  supreme 
Court ; 

Q  To  define  and  punish  Piracies  and  Felonies  com^ 
mitted  on  the  high  Seas,  and  Off^ences  against  the 
Law  of  Nations ; 

(\  To  declare  War,  grant  Letters  of  Marque  and 
Reprisal,  and  make  Rules  concerning  Captures  on 
Land  and  Water ; 

en  To  raise  and  support  Armies,  but  no  Appropri^ 
ation  of  Money  to  that  Use  shall  be  for  a  longer 
Term  than  two  Years ; 
(\  To  provide  and  maintain  a  Navy ; 


(I[  To  make  Rules  for  the  Government  and  Reg^ 
ulation  of  the  land  and  naval  Forces ; 
(l[  To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  Militia  to  ex^ 
ecute  the  Laws  of  the  Union,  suppress  Insurrec^ 
tions  and  repel  Invasions ; 

QTo  provide  for  organizing,  arming,  and  disci^ 
plining,  the  Militia,  and  for  governing  such  Part 
of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  Service  of  the 
United  States,  reserving  to  the  States  respectively, 
the  Appointment  of  the  Officers,  and  the  Author^ 
ity  of  training  the  Militia  according  to  the  discu 
pline  prescribed  by  Congress ; 
QTo  exercise  exclusive  Legislation  in  all  Cases 
whatsoever,  over  such  District  (not  exceeding  ten 
Miles  square)  as  may,  by  Cession  of  particular 
States,  and  the  Acceptance  of  Congress,  become 
the  Seat  of  the  Govemment  of  the  United  States, 
and  to  exercise  like  Authority  over  all  Places  pur-' 
chased  by  the  Consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  in  which  the  same  shall  be,  for  the  Erection 
of  Forts,  Magazines,  Arsenals,  dock^ Yards,  and 
other  needful  Buildings ;  —  And 
(\  To  make  all  Laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and 
proper  for  carrying  into  Execution  the  foregoing 
Powers,  and  all  other  Powers  vested  by  this  Con^ 
stitution  in  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
or  in  any  Department  or  Officer  thereof 


SECTION  9 

(1[  The  Migration  or  Importation  of  such  Persons 

as  any  of  the  States  now  existing  shall  think  proper 

to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited  by  the  Congress 

prior  to  the  Year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 

eight,  but  a  Tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on  such 

Importation,  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for  each 

Person. 

Q  The  Privilege  of  the  Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus 

shall  not  be  suspended,  unless  when  in  Cases  of 

Rebellion  or  Invasion  the  public  Safety  may  re^ 

quire  it. 

(\  No  Bill  of  Attainder  or  ex  post  facto  Law  shall 

be  passed. 

CI[  No  Capitation,  or  other  direct,Tax  shall  be  laid, 

unless  in  Proportion  to  the  Census  or  Enumera^ 

tion  herein  before  directed  to  be  taken. 

Q  No  Tax  or  Duty  shall  be  laid  on  Articles  ex^ 

ported  from  any  State. 

(^  No  Preference  shall  be  given  by  any  Regular 

tion  of  Commerce  or  Revenue  to  the  Ports  of  one 

State  over  those  of  another :  nor  shall  Vessels  bound 

to,  or  from,  one  State,  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or 

pay  Duties  in  another. 

(\  No  Money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury, 

but  in  Consequence  of  Appropriations  made  by 

Law;  and  a  regular  Statement  and  Account  of  the 


Receipts  and  Expenditures  of  all  public  Money 
shall  be  published  from  time  to  time. 
Q  No  Title  of  Nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the 
United  States:  And  no  Person  holding  any  Office 
of  Profit  or  Trust  under  them,  shall,  without  the 
Consent  of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  present, 
Emolument,  Office,  or  Title,  of  any  kind  what^ 
ever,  from  any  King,  Prince,  or  foreign  State. 

SECTION  lO 

(I[  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  Treaty,  Alliance,  or 
Confederation ;  grant  Letters  of  Marque  and  Re^ 
prisal ;  coin  Money ;  emit  Bills  of  Credit ;  make 
any  Thing  but  gold  and  silver  Coin  a  Tender  in 
Payment  of  Debts ;  pass  any  Bill  of  Attainder,  ex 
post  facto  Law,  or  Law  impairing  the  Obligation 
of  Contracts,  or  grant  any  Title  of  Nobility. 
Q  No  State  shall,  without  the  Consent  of  the 
Congress,  lay  any  Imposts  or  Duties  on  Imports 
or  Exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely  neces" 
sary  for  executing  its  inspection  Laws :  and  the 
net  Produce  of  all  Duties  and  Imposts,  laid  by 
any  State  on  Imports  or  Exports,  shall  be  for  the 
Use  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States ;  and 
all  such  Laws  shall  be  subject  to  the  Revision  and 
Controul  of  the  Congress. 

(\  No  State  shall,  without  the  Consent  of  Con^ 
gress,  lay  any  Duty  of  Tonnage,  keep  Troops,  or 


Ships  of  War  in  time  of  Peace,  enter  into  any 
Agreement  or  Compact  with  another  State,  or 
with  a  foreign  Power,  or  engage  in  War,  unless 
actually  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent  Danger  as 
will  not  admit  of  delay. 


ARTICLE  II 


SECTION  1 

Q  The  executive  Power  shall  be  vested  in  a  Pre^ 
sident  of  the  United  States  of  America.  He  shall 
hold  his  Office  during  the  Term  of  four  Years, 
and,  together  with  the  V^ice  President,  chosen  for 
the  same  Term,  be  elected,  as  follows 
(\  Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  Manner  as  the 
Legislature  thereof  may  direct,  a  Number  of 
Electors,  equal  to  the  whole  Number  of  Senators 
and  Representatives  to  which  the  State  may  be 
entitled  in  the  Congress :  but  no  Senator  or  Repre^ 
sentative,  or  Person  holding  an  Office  of  Trust  or 
Profit  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  appoint- 
ed an  Elector. 

Q  The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective 
States,  and  vote  by  Ballot  for  two  Persons,  of 
whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an  Inhabitant 
of  the  same  State  with  themselves.  And  they 


shall  make  a  List  of  all  the  Persons  voted  for,  and 
of  the  Number  of  Votes  for  each ;  which  List 
they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to 
the  Seat  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The  Pre^ 
sident  of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  Presence  of  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the 
Certificates,  and  the  Votes  shall  then  be  counted. 
The  Person  having  the  greatest  Number  of  Votes 
shall  be  the  President,  if  such  Number  be  a  Ma^ 
jority  of  the  whole  Number  of  Electors  appointed ; 
and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who  have  such 
Majority,  and  have  an  equal  Number  of  Votes, 
then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  imme^ 
diately  chuse  by  Ballot  one  of  them  for  President; 
and  if  no  Person  have  a  Majority,  then  from  the 
five  highest  on  the  List  the  said  House  shall  in 
like  Manner  chuse  the  President.  But  in  chusing 
the  President,  the  Votes  shall  be  taken  by  States, 
the  Representation  from  each  State  having  one 
Vote ;  A  quorum  for  this  Purpose  shall  consist  of 
a  Member  or  Members  from  two  thirds  of  the 
States,  and  a  Majority  of  all  the  States  shall  be  nec- 
essary to  a  Choice.  In  every  Case,  after  the  Choice 
of  the  President,  the  Person  having  the  greatest 
Number  of  Votes  of  the  Electors  shall  be  the  Wice 
President.  But  if  there  should  remain  two  or  more 
who  have  equal  Votes,  the  Senate  shall  chuse  from 
them  by  Ballot  the  Wicc  President. 


Cl[The  Congress  maj  determine  the  Time  of 
chusing  the  Electors,  and  the  Day  on  which  they 
shall  give  their  Votes;  which  Day  shall  be  the  same 
throughout  the  United  States. 
Ql  No  Person  except  a  natural  born  Citizen,  or  a 
Citizen  of  the  United  States,  at  the  time  of  the 
Adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible  to 
the  Office  of  President ;  neither  shall  any  Person  be 
eligible  to  that  Office  who  shall  not  have  attained 
to  the  Age  of  thirty  five  Years,  and  been  fourteen 
Years  a  Resident  within  the  United  States. 
(\  In  Case  of  the  Removal  of  the  President  from 
Office,  or  of  his  Death,  Resignation,  or  Inability 
to  discharge  the  Powers  and  Duties  of  the  said 
OfRcCt  the  Same  shall  devolve  on  the  ^ice  Presi^ 
dent,  and  the  Congress  may  by  Law  provide  for  the 
Case  of  Removal,  Death,  Resignation,  or  Inabil^ 
ity,  both  of  the  President  and  Vice  President,  de^ 
daring  what  Officer  shall  then  act  as  President, 
and  such  Officer  shall  act  accordingly,  until  the 
Disability  be  removed,  or  a  President  shall  be  electa 
ed. 

Q  The  President  shall,  at  stated  Times,  receive  for 
his  Services,  a  Compensation,  which  shall  neither 
be  encreased  nor  diminished  during  the  Period  for 
which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  and  he  shall  not 
receive  within  that  Period  any  other  Emolument 
from  the  United  States,  or  any  of  them. 
Q  Before  he  enter  on  the  Execution  of  his  Office, 


he  shall  take  the  following  Oath  or  AfErma^ 
tion :  — 

(I  '*  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will 
"  faithfully  execute  the  Office  of  President  of  the 
"  United  States,  and  will  to  the  best  of  my  Abil^ 
"  ity,  preserve,  protect  and  defend  the  Constitu^ 
"  tion  of  the  United  States/' 

SECTION  2 

(I[  The  President  shall  be  Commander  in  Chief 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States, 
and  of  the  Militia  of  the  several  States,  when 
called  into  the  actual  Service  of  the  United  States ; 
he  may  require  the  Opinion,  in  writing,  of  the 
principal  Officer  in  each  of  the  executive  De^ 
partments,  upon  any  Subject  relating  to  the  Du^ 
ties  of  their  respective  Offices,  and  he  shall  have 
Power  to  grant  Reprieves  and  Pardons  for  Of' 
fences  against  the  United  States,  except  in  Cases 
of  Impeachment. 

(\  He  shall  have  Power,  by  and  with  the  Advice 
and  Consent  of  the  Senate,  to  make  Treaties,  pro^ 
vided  two  thirds  of  the  Senators  present  concur ; 
and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  Ad^ 
vice  and  Consent  of  the  Senate,  shall  appoint 
Ambassadors,  other  public  Ministers  and  Con^ 
suls.  Judges  of  the  supreme  Court,  and  all  other 
Officers  of  the  United  States,  whose  Appoint^ 
ments  are  not  herein  otherwise  provided  for,  and 


which  shall  be  established  by  Law :  but  the  Con^ 
gress  may  by  Law  vest  the  Appointment  of  such 
inferior  Officers,  as  they  think  proper,  in  the 
President  alone,  in  the  Courts  of  Law,  or  in  the 
Heads  of  Departments. 

Q  The  President  shall  have  Power  to  fill  up  all 
Vacancies  that  may  happen  during  the  Recess 
of  the  Senate,  by  granting  Commissions  which 
shall  expire  at  the  End  of  their  next  Session. 

SECTION  3 

(\  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give  to  the  Con- 
gress Information  of  the  State  of  the  Union,  and 
recommend  to  their  Consideration  such  Measures 
as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient;  he 
may,  on  extraordinary  Occasions,  convene  both 
Houses,  or  either  of  them,  and  in  Case  of  Disa- 
greement between  them,  with  Respect  to  the 
Time  of  Adjournment,  he  may  adjourn  them  to 
such  Time  as  he  shall  think  proper;  he  shall  re- 
ceive Ambassadors  and  other  public  Ministers; 
he  shall  take  Care  that  the  Laws  be  faithfully 
executed,  and  shall  Commission  all  the  Officers 
of  the  United  States. 


SECTION  4 

QThe  President,  Vice  President  and  all  civil  Offi- 
cers of  the  United  States,  shall  be  removed  from 
Office  on  Impeachment  for,  and  Conviction  of. 


Treason,  Bribery,  or  other  high  Crimes  and  Mis^ 
demeanors. 


ARTICLE  III 


SECTION  1 

Q  The  judicial  Power  of  the  United  States,  shall 
be  vested  in  one  supreme  Court,  and  in  such  in^ 
ferior  Courts  as  the  Congress  may  from  time  to 
time  ordain  and  establish.  The  Judges,  both  of 
the  supreme  and  inferior  Courts,  shall  hold  their 
Offices  during  good  Behaviour,  and  shall,  at  stated 
Times,  receive  for  their  Services,  a  Compensation, 
which  shall  not  be  diminished  during  their  Con^ 
tinuance  in  Office. 

SECTION  2 

(\  The  judicial  Power  shall  extend  to  all  Cases,  in 
Law  and  Equity,  arising  under  this  Constitution, 
the  Laws  of  the  United  States,  and  Treaties 
made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their  Au^ 
thority;  —  to  all  Cases  affecting  Ambassadors, 
other  public  Ministers  and  Consuls;  —  to  all 
Cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime  Jurisdiction  ;  — 
to  Controversies  to  which  the  United  States  shall 
be  a  Party ;  —  to  Controversies  between  two  or 


more  States ;  —  between  a  State  and  Citizens  of 
another  State ;  —  between  Citizens  of  different 
States,  —  between  Citizens  of  the  same  State 
claiming  Lands  under  Grants  of  different  States, 
and  between  a  State,  or  the  Citizens  thereof,  and 
foreign  States,  Citizens  or  Subjects. 
(I[  In  all  Cases  affecting  Ambassadors,  other  pub" 
lie  Ministers  and  Consuls,  and  those  in  which  a 
State  shall  be  Party,  the  supreme  Court  shall  have 
original  Jurisdiction.  In  all  the  other  Cases  before 
mentioned,  the  supreme  Court  shall  have  appeL 
late  Jurisdiction,  both  as  to  Law  and  Fact,  with 
such  Exceptions,  and  under  such  Regulations  as 
the  Congress  shall  make. 

(1[  The  Trial  of  all  Crimes,  except  in  Cases  of  Im^ 
peachment,  shall  be  by  Jury ;  and  such  Trial  shall 
be  held  in  the  State  where  the  said  Crimes  shall 
have  been  committed ;  but  when  not  committed 
within  any  State,  the  Trial  shall  be  at  such  Place 
or  Places  as  the  Congress  may  by  Law  have  du 
rected. 


SECTION  3 

(1[  Treason  against  the  United  States,  shall  consist 
only  in  levying  War  against  them,  or  in  adhering 
to  their  Enemies,  giving  them  Aid  and  Comfort. 
No  Person  shall  be  convicted  of  Treason  unless 
on  the  Testimony  of  two  Witnesses  to  the  same 
overt  Act,  or  on  Confession  in  open  Court. 


(H  The  Congress  shall  have  Power  to  declare  the 
Punishment  of  Treason,  but  no  Attainder  of 
Treason  shall  work  Corruption  of  Blood,  or  For- 
feiture except  during  the  Life  of  the  Person  at- 
tainted. 


ARTICLE  IV 


SECTION  1 

CI[  Full  Faith  and  Credit  shall  be  given  in  each 
State  to  the  public  Acts,  Records,  and  judicial 
Proceedings  of  every  other  State.  And  the  Con- 
gress may  by  general  Laws  prescribe  the  Manner 
in  which  such  Acts,  Records  and  Proceedings 
shall  be  proved,  and  the  Effect  thereof. 

SECTION  2 

Cl[  The  Citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to 
all  Privileges  and  Immunities  of  Citizens  in  the 
several  States. 

(I[  A  Person  charged  in  any  State  with  Treason, 
Felony,  or  other  Crime,  who  shall  flee  from  Jus- 
tice, and  be  found  in  another  State,  shall  on  De- 
mand of  the  executive  Authority  of  the  State 
from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up,  to  be  removed 
to  the  State  having  Jurisdiction  of  the  Crime. 
(\  No  Person  held  to  Service  or  Labour  in  one 


State,  under  the  Laws  thereof,  escaping  into  an^ 
other,  shall,  in  Consequence  of  any  Law  or  Regu^ 
lation  therein,  be  discharged  from  such  Service  or 
Labour,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  Claim  of  the 
Party  to  whom  such  Service  or  Labour  may  be  due. 

SECTION  3 

(\  New  States  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress 
into  this  Union ;  but  no  new  State  shall  be  formed 
or  erected  within  the  Jurisdiction  of  any  other 
State ;  nor  any  State  be  formed  by  the  Junction 
of  two  or  more  States,  or  Parts  of  States,  without 
the  Consent  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  con^ 
cerned  as  well  as  of  the  Congress. 
Q  The  Congress  shall  have  Power  to  dispose  of 
and  make  all  needful  Rules  and  Regulations  re^ 
specting  the  Territory  or  other  Property  belongs 
ing  to  the  United  States ;  and  nothing  in  this 
Constitution  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  Prejudice 
any  Claims  of  the  United  States,  or  of  any  par^ 
ticular  State. 

SECTION  4 

(][  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every 
State  in  this  Union  a  Republican  Form  of  Gov- 
ernment, and  shall  protect  each  of  them  against 
Invasion ;  and  on  Application  of  the  Legislature, 
or  of  the  Executive  (when  the  Legislature  cannot 
be  convened)  against  domestic  Violence. 


ARTICLE  V 

(\  The  Congress,  whenever  two  thirds  of  both 
Houses  shall  deem  it  necessary,  shall  propose 
Amendments  to  this  Constitution,  or,  on  the 
Application  of  the  Legislatures  of  two  thirds  of 
the  several  States,  shall  call  a  Convention  for 
proposing  Amendments,  which,  in  either  Case, 
shall  be  valid  to  all  Intents  and  Purposes,  as  Part 
of  this  Constitution,  when  ratified  by  the  Legis- 
latures of  three  fourths  of  the  several  States,  or  by- 
Conventions  in  three  fourths  thereof,  as  the  one 
or  the  other  Mode  of  Ratification  may  be  pro^- 
posed  by  the  Congress;  Provided  that  no  Amend- 
ment which  may  be  made  prior  to  the  Year  One 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight  shall  in  any 
Manner  affect  the  first  and  fourth  Clauses  in  the 
Ninth  Section  of  the  first  Article ;  and  that  no 
State,  without  its  Consent,  shall  be  deprived  of 
its  equal  Suffrage  in  the  Senate. 


ARTICLE  VI 


(\  All  Debts  contracted  and  Engagements  entered 
into,  before  the  Adoption  of  this  Constitution, 


shall  be  as  valid  against  the  United  States  under 
this  Constitution,  as  under  the  Confederation. 
CI  This  Constitution,  and  the  Laws  of  the  United 
States  which  shall  be  made  in  Pursuance  thereof; 
and  all  Treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made, 
under  the  Authority  of  the  United  States,  shall 
be  the  supreme  Law  of  the  Land ;  and  the  Judges 
in  every  State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  any  Thing 
in  the  Constitution  or  Laws  of  any  State  to  the 
Contrary  notwithstanding. 
(\  The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  men^ 
tioned,  and  the  Members  of  the  several  State 
Legislatures,  and  all  executive  and  judicial  Offi^ 
cers,  both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  several 
States,  shall  be  bound  by  Oath  or  Affirmation,  to 
support  this  Constitution;  but  no  religious  Test 
shall  ever  be  required  as  a  Qualification  to  any 
Office  or  public  Trust  under  the  United  States. 


ARTICLE  VII 


(\  The  Ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine 
States,  shall  be  sufficient  for  the  Establishment  of 
this  Constitution  between  the  States  so  ratifying 
the  Same. 


LJ  v^lN  Hj  in  Convention  by  the  Unanimous 
Consent  of  the  States  present  the  Seventeenth  Day 
of  September  in  the  Year  of  our  Lx)rd  one  thou^ 
sand  seven  hundred  and  Eighty  seven  and  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America 
the  Twelfth  IN  WITNESS  whereof  We  have 
hereunto  subscribed  our  Names. 

G?  Washington 
Preside  and  deputy  from  Virginia 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE  (J°™  ^^'^^''°'^ 

t  Nicholas  Gilman 


MASSACHUSETTS 


Nathaniel  Gorham 
RuFus  King 


CONNECTICUT       (  "^  Sam^  Johnson 

I  Roger  Sherman 


NEW  YORK 


.  Alexander  Hamilton 


NEW  JERSEY 


Wil:  Livingston 
David  Brearley 
Jon  a:  Dayton 
W-  Paterson 


^                    :^^.                       ■>'^^-                      ^^^                     '.^^^                     WA=:^\ 

B  Franklin 

1 

Thomas  Mifflin 

1 

RoBT  Morris 

PENNSYLVANIA  • 

Geo.  Clymer 
Tho?  Fitz  Simons 
Jared  Ingersoll 
James  Wilson. 
L  Gouv  Morris 

Geo:  Read 
Gunning  Bedford  jun 

■ 

DELAWARE 

John  Dickinson 
Richard  Basseit 
Jaco:  Broom 

James  M^Henry 

1 

MARYLAND 

Dan  of  St.  Thos.  Jenifer 
^  Danl  Carroll 

1 

VIRGINIA 

'John  Blair 
James  Madison  Jr. 

1 

1 

NORTH 
CAROLINA 

^  W^  Blount 
Rich?  Dobbs  Spaight 
Hu  Williamson 

^x<:           \m\           yM 

J 

SOUTH 
CAROLINA 


j.  rutledge 

Charles  Cotesworth  Pinckney 

Charles  Pinckney 

Pierce  Butler 


William  Few 
Abr  Baldwin 


GEORGIA 

Attest  William  Jackson  Secretary 


•       * 


ARTICLES 


IN  ADDITION  TO  AND  AMENDMENT 
OF  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA,  PRO^ 
POSED  BY  CONGRESS  AND  RATIFIED 
BY  THE  LEGISLATURES  OF  THE  SEV^ 
ERAL  STATES,  PURSUANT  TO  THE 
FIFTH  ARTICLE  OF  THE  ORIGINAL 
CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  I 

Q[  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  estab^ 
lishment  of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise 
thereof;  or  abridging  the  freedom  of  speech,  or  of 
the  press ;  or  the  right  of  the  people  peaceably  to 
assemble,  and  to  petition  the  Government  for  a 
redress  of  grievances. 

ARTICLE  II 

QJ  A  well  regulated  Militia,  being  necessary  to  the 
security  of  a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people  to 
keep  and  bear  Arms,  shall  not  be  infringed. 

ARTICLE  III 

(\  No  Soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace  be  quartered 
in  any  house,  without  the  consent  of  the  Owner, 


nor  in  time  of  war,  but  in  a  manner  to  be  pre^ 
scribed  by  law. 

ARTICLE  IV 

Q  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their 
persons,  houses,  papers,  and  effects,  against  un^- 
reasonable  searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  vio^ 
lated,  and  no  Warrants  shall  issue,  but  upon 
probable  cause,  supported  by  Oath  or  affirmation, 
and  particularly  describing  the  place  to  be  searched, 
and  the  person  or  things  to  be  seized. 

ARTICLE  V 

(\  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital, 
or  otherwise  infamous  crime,  unless  on  a  present^ 
ment  or  indictment  of  a  Grand  Jury,  except  in 
cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the 
Militia,  when  in  actual  service  in  time  of  War  or 
public  danger ;  nor  shall  any  person  be  subject  for 
the  same  offence  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of 
life  or  limb  ;  nor  shall  be  compelled  in  any  crim^ 
inal  case  to  be  a  witness  against  himself,  nor  be 
deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due 
process  of  law;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken 
for  public  use,  without  just  compensation. 

ARTICLE  VI 

(I[  In  all  criminal  prosecutions  the  accused  shall 
enjoy  the  right  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an 


impartial  jury  of  the  State  and  district  wherein 
the  crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which  dis- 
trict shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by 
law,  and  to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and  cause 
of  the  accusation  ;  to  be  confronted  with  the  wit- 
nesses against  him ;  to  have  Compulsory  process 
for  obtaining  Witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  to  have 
the  Assistance  of  Counsel  for  his  defence. 

ARTICLE  VII 

QJ  In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in 
controversy  shall  exceed  twenty  dollars,  the  right 
of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved,  and  no  fact 
tried  by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in 
any  Court  of  the  United  States,  than  according 
to  the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

ARTICLE  VIII 

Cl[  Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  exces- 
sive fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and  unusual  punish- 
ments inflicted. 

ARTICLE  IX 

(\  The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution,  of  cer- 
tain rights,  shall  not  be  construed  to  deny  or  dis- 
parage others  retained  by  the  people. 

ARTICLE  X 

Q|  The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States 


by  the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the 
States,  are  reserved  to  the  States  respectively,  or 
to  the  people. 

ARTICLE  XI 

(\  The  Judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall 
not  be  construed  to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or 
equity,  commenced  or  prosecuted  against  one  of 
the  United  States  by  Citizens  of  another  State,  or 
by  Citizens  or  Subjects  of  any  Foreign  State, 

ARTICLE  XII 

(1[  The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  states, 
and  vote  by  ballot  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent, one  of  whom,  at  least,  shall  not  be  an  in- 
habitant  of  the  same  state  with  themselves ;  they 
shall  name  in  their  ballots  the  person  voted  for 
as  President,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the  person 
voted  for  as  Vice-President,  and  they  shall  make 
distinct  lists  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  President, 
and  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  Vice-President, 
and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each,  which  lists 
they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to 
the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate ;  —  The 
President  of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  open 
all  the  certificates  and  the  votes  shall  then  be 
counted ;  —  The  person  having  the  greatest  num- 


ber  of  votes  for  President,  shall  be  the  President, 
if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  num^ 
ber  of  Electors  appointed  ;  and  if  no  person  have 
such  majority,  then  from  the  persons  having  the 
highest  numbers  not  exceeding  three  on  the  list 
of  those  voted  for  as  President,  the  House  of 
Representatives  shall  choose  immediately,  by  baL 
lot,  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  President, 
the  votes  shall  be  taken  by  states,  the  representa- 
tion from  each  state  having  one  vote ;  a  quorum 
for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  or 
members  from  two-thirds  of  the  states,  and  a  ma- 
jority of  all  the  states  shall  be  necessary  to  a 
choice.    And  if  the  House  of  Representatives 
shall  not  choose  a  President  whenever  the  right 
of  choice  shall  devolve  upon  them,  before  the 
fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  then  the 
Vice-President  shall  act  as  President,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  death  or  other  constitutional  disability 
of  the  President.  —  The  person  having  the  great- 
est number  of  votes  as  Vice-President,  shall  be 
the  Vice-President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority 
of  the  whole  number  of  Electors  appointed,  and 
if  no  person  have  a  majority,  then  from  the  two 
highest  numbers  on  the  list,  the   Senate   shall 
choose  the  Vice-President ;  a  quorum  for  the  pur- 
pose shall  consist  of  two-thirds  of  the  whole  num- 
ber of  Senators,  and  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.   But  no 


person  constitutionally  ineligible  to  the  office  of 
President  shall  be  eligible  to  that  of  Vice^Presi^ 
dent  of  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  XIII 

(\  Section  i .  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  ser^ 
vitude,  except  as  a  punishment  for  crime  whereof 
the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted,  shall  exist 
within  the  United  States,  or  any  place  subject  to 
their  jurisdiction. 

QI  Section  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce 
this  article  by  appropriate  legislation. 

ARTICLE  XIV 

Q  Section  1 .  All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the 
United  States,  and  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  there^ 
of,  are  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  of  the 
State  wherein  they  reside.  No  State  shall  make  or 
enforce  any  law  which  shall  abridge  the  privileges 
or  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  United  States ; 
nor  shall  any  State  deprive  any  person  of  life, 
liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of  law ; 
nor  deny  to  any  person  within  its  jurisdiction  the 
equal  protection  of  the  laws. 
(1[  Section  2.  Representatives  shall  be  apportioned 
among  the  several  States  according  to  their  respec^ 
tive  numbers,  counting  the  whole  number  of  per^ 
sons  in  each  State,  excluding  Indians  not  taxed. 
But  when  the  right  to  vote  at  any  election  for  the 


choice  of  electors  for  President  and  Vice-Presi^ 
dent  of  the  United  States,  Representatives  in 
Congress,  the  Executive  and  Judicial  officers  of  a 
State,  or  the  members  of  the  Legislature  thereof, 
is  denied  to  any  of  the  male  inhabitants  of  such 
State,  being  twenty ^one  years  of  age,  and  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  way  abridged, 
except  for  participation  in  rebellion,  or  other 
crime,  the  basis  of  representation  therein  shall  be 
reduced  in  the  proportion  which  the  number  of 
such  male  citizens  shall  bear  to  the  whole  number 
of  male  citizens  twenty ^one  years  of  age  in  such 
State. 

(1[  Section  3.  No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  or  Re^ 
presentative  in  Congress,  or  elector  of  President 
and  Vice-President,  or  hold  any  office,  civil  or  mil" 
itary,  under  the  United  States,  or  under  any  State, 
who,  having  previously  taken  an  oath,  as  a  member 
of  Congress,  or  as  an  officer  of  the  United  States, 
or  as  a  member  of  any  State  legislature,  or  as  an 
executive  or  judicial  officer  of  any  State,  to  sup^ 
port  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  shall 
have  engaged  in  insurrection  or  rebellion  against 
the  same,  or  given  aid  or  comfort  to  the  enemies 
thereof.  But  Congress  may  by  a  vote  of  t  wo-thirds 
of  each  House,  remove  such  disability. 
(\  Section  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of 
the  United  States,  authorized  by  law,  including 
debts  incurred  for  payment  of  pensions  andboun^ 


ties  for  services  in  suppressing  insurrection  or  re- 
bellion, shall  not  be  questioned.  But  neither  the 
United  States  nor  any  State  shall  assume  or  pay 
any  debt  or  obligation  incurred  in  aid  of  insurrec- 
tion or  rebellion  against  the  United  States,  or  any 
claim  for  the  loss  or  emancipation  of  any  slave ; 
but  all  such  debts,  obligations  and  claims  shall  be 
held  illegal  and  void. 

(\  Section  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  en- 
force, by  appropriate  legislation,  the  provisions  of 
this  article. 

ARTICLE  XV 

(I[  Section  1 .  The  right  of  citizens  of  the  United 
States  to  vote  shall  not  be  denied  or  abridged  by  the 
United  States  or  by  any  State  on  account  of  race, 
color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude. 
(I[  Section  2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to 
enforce  this  article  by  appropriate  legislation. 


*       * 


(I[  Four  hundred  and  forty  copies  printed 
at  The  Riverside  Press  Cambridge  in  the 
month  of  April,  Mdccccxi,  and  puHished 
by  Houghton  Mifflin  Company,  Boston 
and  New  York.  Number  /  ^7 


